Meet The Owners: Amherst Yoga

is much more than just a yoga studio.

Barbara Landry and Michelle Luks purchased the studio over three years ago, and moved into their current location two and a half years ago.

The two friends have worked to create a peaceful environment that offers spiritual mentoring alongside physical well-being. Not only that, but they have built a space that fosters community togetherness and awareness for all ages.

The growing yoga studio has multiple instructors working with all levels of yoga, massage and health counseling to name a few. They hold many events each month aimed at expanding their message of overall health and self-awareness.

Amherst Patch sat down with Michelle and Barbara to talk about their business.

Patch: What makes your yoga studio special?

Michelle: What makes us different is that the energy in our space is different. We are community-based and not here for any other reason but to share, not just yoga, but a whole philosophy on living. There is a bond and a closeness here that extends far beyond a yoga studio. We definitely have a community here, unlike some places where you are with sixty people who don’t even know their instructor. I can tell you something about anybody in my class, and that is important to us here.

Patch: What is the most rewarding part of owning this business?

Barbara: The studio is a great vehicle for being able to create an environment to nurture people in their growth and transformation. I think we live in a culture where a lot of people are searching for something, but they don’t necessarily know what they are looking for. I appreciate being a yoga teacher and creating this environment for them. I get to see people experience themselves and recognize what they are looking for is actually within them. You cannot connect on that level until you have found yourself, and it is such a great thing to witness it happen. They realize their own value, their own strengths and their capabilities. I get to help give people an opportunity to find what they already have within themselves.

Patch: What is challenging about owning your yoga studio?

Michelle: The challenge is to get people to come and try it. There are so many preconceived notions that limit people’s willingness to come in. Some are afraid they are not flexible enough, but you come to yoga to become flexible. In fact, your whole being becomes more flexible. Most people, once they come in and try it, love it and stay with us. We want people taking time to care for themselves, because a lot of people want to be here. They know they need it, but then get too busy.

Patch: How have you been able to help people here?

Barbara: There are so many examples of people changing when they come here. For example, we had a Living With Joy book club where, after eight meetings, one woman was able to learn a truth about her happiness. The key to being joyful is to believe in yourself and to trust in the universe. If you can believe in yourself and trust the universe, that is the rudder that keeps you on course when everything around you can be challenging. Many people find steadiness and become more grounded. We also had a gentleman start yoga in his 50s and he told us that he works and feels differently. He said that he couldn’t believe the difference in reducing stress. It was amazing.

Patch: What is your favorite thing about going to work each day?

Michelle: My favorite part of Amherst Yoga is the community aspect of it. I love being with people and sharing in their journey. They are all gifted, beautiful people and we get to share in their lives. They share in our lives as well. Most everybody leaves feeling great and we get to bring people that sense of release and well-being.

Patch: What are the plans for the future?

Michelle: We plan on doing more spiritual study classes, workshops and continuing to integrate other aspects of a yogic lifestyle into our studio. We are adding a prenatal yoga class, call and response chanting and more instructors. We are also working on our own line of yoga pants, where the fabric is produced by people with disabilities or others who are unable to work outside of the home.

Visit their website here.